You wake up alone and the mystery deepens.

You stretch and yawn and, not for the first time, you are grateful for a bimboi body that will never wake up sore, no matter how badly you abused it the night before. You look around for Dee, but she's nowhere to be seen. You rub your eyes and walk to the restroom, figuring she must be washing you off of her in the shower, but it's empty. You try to ignore the cold pall growing in your stomach, telling yourself she is probably sneaking you breakfast from the cafeteria as you step into the shower. The hot water doesn't warm the icy pit in your gut, and when you step out, she's still not there.

You dry off and get dressed as quickly as you can, the Bad Bimboi 'B' on your blouse seeming especially sinister today. You don't expect answers from the guileless guidance counselor, so you head to the principal's office to find out what's going on, and what they did to your best frenemy with benefits. You give the secretary a song and dance about a dying relative, and it's enough to get you in the door.

'Ms. Jaqueline looks like a Barbie doll and sounds like one too when she chirps, "Good morning, Amy, what can I help you with? And please don't give me the dying relative routine. I'm a dumb blonde, not a stupid one." She gives you a look that chills you to the bones. There is something wrong here...something wrong with her cheery facade. She has a dark side buried under that sunny smile and perfect plastic skin.

"Cut the cute act. Where is Dee...uh Diabolique? She wasn't in my dorm when I woke up this morning and I know you've done something to her!" Your fists are clenched in futile fury, your heart is in your throat, and you are drenched in a cold sweat. Still, you stand your ground, if only because you are paralyzed with fear.

"Aww, it sounds like you actually care. That's good. That shows progress. You don't have to worry about Dee though, with her breakthrough last night, she no longer needs to be quarantined." You eye her suspiciously, not exactly surprised they were spying on you, but scared at how freely she admits it. "Oh don't look so scared. You are all potential biohazards and it's our job to try to make you more than that. All that was standing in Dee's way was her inability to trust, others and herself. You...well, let's just say you are more of a challenge. Don't worry, Amy, we specialize in hard cases like you."

You finally take a seat, staggered...the strength draining from your body. A biohazard...a cute little contagion. That's all you are to them. They still see you at your worst...no, no it's worse than that. They've seen the best of you too. And it's still not good enough. You ask with a shaking voice, "C-c-can't Dee come back to h-help me?"

Ms. Jacqueline puts her hand over yours and looks at you with actual warmth in her eyes. "Aww, sweety, just asking for that tell's me you have so far to go. I know it's hard, but if you really cared about Dee, you'd want her to get the help she needs, not stay in a stagnant spiral slowly circling down with you. She needs her space, and you still have four more students to help. Sasha doesn't want to make friends with anyone, Polly is displaying extremely antisocial behavior, and Abigail...well, she might be adjusting a little too well. They all still need help, and I honestly believe you are the one to help them all. If you can, then there's just one more student to help." She squeezes your hand in case you didn't pick up the hint she was talking about you.

"Yes, Ms. Jacqueline. I'll get right to it." You try to keep the bile out of your voice, not sure what you hate more, all the bullshit she's spewing, or that it has the pungent scent of truth. One thing's for sure, you aren't going to see Dee, or Becca, or Ella, or anyone else you care about if you don't 'graduate' soon. You find the strength to stand on shaking knees and wobbly legs. It's hard, but you've taken bigger first steps on shakier footing.

One step at a time...

It takes you out of the principal's office and into the halls, heading to class in a daze, wondering which student you will help next...or how...